So many nonprofits were nominated for #SupportingOurSector this year and we were overwhelmed with the heartwarming nominations that came in! When we designed this initiative, we wanted to be sure to help amplify the causes that our community cares about. In response to the dozens of organizations and hundreds and hundreds of meaningful recommendations we read through, we’re sharing the list of nominated organizations with links to their website and social media pages, and a selection of the nominations we received.
We encourage you to visit them and learn about a new organization, or more about one you may already be familiar with.
Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST)
“As the first anti-trafficking organization in the country, the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST) is one of the key leaders of the US anti-trafficking movement and is known for its model programs across the globe. Founded in 1998 in response to the discovery of 72 Thai workers that had been kept for years in slavery and debt bondage in Los Angeles County, the organization has been at the forefront of the issue in L.A., California, and across the U.S., including opening the first-ever shelter exclusively for trafficking victims. Today, through partnerships with over 100 cultural and faith-based community groups, healthcare organizations, government agencies and law enforcement, CAST provides support at every phase of a human trafficking victim’s journey to becoming an empowered survivor. Serving as a crucial bridge between practice and public policy, CAST is a learning organization that puts its evidence-based data to work on creating systemic change. By combining its model of social and legal services for survivors with a leadership and advocacy model, survivors are empowered to shape public policy and public dialogue on trafficking. Through CAST Survivor Leadership programs, survivors are equal partners who can access the skills, training, and opportunities they need to become powerful voices at the forefront of the anti-trafficking movement.” -Nancy J.
- Website: http://www.castla.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/castla
College Access Plan
“College Access Plan prepares underserved students to succeed in college.” -Melanie G.
- Website: http://collegeaccessplan.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/iheartcollege
Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk
“Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk has played a huge role in helping to revitalize downtown. What was a completely abandoned neighborhood at night ten years ago has now been transformed into a fully active neighborhood. A huge part of that was Downtown Art Walk bringing people from all over the city to Downtown at night for their event. We always hear people walking around during Downtown Art Walk saying – ‘wow, I never knew this was here!'” -Morgan S.
- Website: http://downtownartwalk.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/downtownartwalk
Elizabeth House
“Elizabeth House is a home for pregnant, homeless women and their children in the Los Angeles area. They have helped over 300 women over the past 22 years. They provide wrap-around services such as counseling, case management, classes on parenting and life skills, as well as mentoring. Elizabeth House is small, only housing 6-8 women at a time. Their staff consists of only about 10-12 people. This is a transformative place, changing lives with love.” -Wendi F.
- Website: https://www.elizabethhouse.net/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ehousepasadena
Exceptional Minds
“Exceptional Minds works with individuals on the autism spectrum. My son went for one of their summer sessions & absolutely LOVED it!! Their encouragement and education not only helped him but helped me as well. He no longer feels forgotten and lost from the traditional education system and has goals for after graduating high school. Exceptional Minds is doing such great work!” -Monica R.
- Website: http://www.exceptionalmindsstudio.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExMinds
Foundation Think Again
“So much love and support for vulnerable kiddos” -Georgia V.
- Website: http://www.thinkagain.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoundationThinkAgain/
Friends In Deed
“Supporting homeless and at-risk of homelessness people through a food pantry, shelter, housing referrals and and a safe space for women.” -Melanie G.
- Website: http://friendsindeedpas.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FID_Pasadena
Gladeo
“Gladeo is changing the way students can imagine their futures. By providing students with much-needed “behind-the-scenes” exposure to different career fields and technical trades, they are opening up the realm of possibilities to students all over the country. I wish I would have had something like Gladeo during my formative years. I probably could have gotten to where I am today a lot faster with less fear.” -Rebecca W.
- Website: https://www.gladeo.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gladeo_org
Grades of Green
“I’m nominating Grades of Green, an award-winning 501(c)3 that works with students in Grades K-12 who take action to protect our planet. What I like about Grades of Green is they start with kids when they are young, to help them develop daily eco-habits, and continue working with them at each stage in their development, so by the time they are in high-school they are environmental advocates working for true social change. One Grades of Green student saw his passion to breathe cleaner air become a statewide resolution (ACR 160) to prohibit idling where children congregate and is determined to see the resolution become law. Other Grades of Green students have received the high honor of the U.S. Presidential Environmental Youth Award for their conservation efforts. These youth are making a difference and they are growing up to choose environmentally-focused college majors and careers.” -Debra H.
- Website: http://www.gradesofgreen.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/GradesofGreen
HomeAid San Diego
“HomeAid San Diego is unique among nonprofits in that we bring together a collective working group of partners (nonprofit social service agencies, local builders and trades, national and local resources and community leaders) to build homeless shelters that house the temporarily homeless where they receive services to help them move beyond their homeless situation, restore their self-worth, and regain self-sufficiency.” -Anonymous
- Website: http://www.homeaidsd.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/homeaidsandiego
Inspired Kids
“Inspired Kids is inspiring kids to share their work, their stories, their contributions and more via a beautiful magazine that is written 100% by Kids.” -Michael V.
- Website: http://www.readinspiredmag.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/inspiredkidmag
LA Kitchen
“They are helping to reduce food waste and training those who are in need of jobs. They are creating a sustainable model to help with poverty, healthy eating and investing in people.” -Anonymous
- Website: http://www.lakitchen.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelakitchen
Los Angeles Children’s Chorus
“Los Angeles Children’s Chorus takes people who represent the richly diverse racial, economic, and cultural backgrounds of the Los Angeles area and provides them the highest quality choral music education. Through the beauty of inspired and joyful singing, Los Angeles Children’s Chorus brings the transformative power of music to communities throughout Southern California, the nation and the world. It also hosts concerts by premier youth choirs from around the world, fostering global cultural exchange and understanding. The choir collaborates with arts organizations in the Los Angeles area, such as the L.A. Philharmonic, Pasadena Symphony, L.A. Opera, and L.A. Master Chorale. This choir gives children skills, experiences, and confidence that translate into whatever career they ultimately choose. The choir also enriches the community through its free community and charity events. Every major arts center has a high quality children’s choir, and this one is vital to the thriving urban community of Los Angeles. Arts experiences are crucial to bringing people together, which is so important today. Los Angeles Children’s Chorus is a high quality organization with the mission to bring people together through the voices of children.” -Anonymous
- Website: https://www.lachildrenschorus.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LACCsings
Please note, Starfish Impact did not conduct any due diligence on the above organizations to ensure their nonprofit status, and is not explicitly endorsing any or all of these organizations. The quotes are pulled from the nominations, and attributed when permission was received, or anonymized if not. Minimal edits were made for brevity or fluidity.
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